July 18,2023

Today, we took a hike up the Burro Trail. We came to a cleared area with piles of dead, felled trees. This is a fire break for the city of Breckenridge and a joint project of the Colorado Forestry Department and the National Forest Service. The clear-cut swath was a surprise, but it’s a result of climate change, an attempt to save towns that are surrounded by forest.

That clear area aside, the day was beautiful. I was reminded of our modern Benedicite, a hymn by J. Strother (sand she wrote Mrs. Miniver as well!).

We thank you, Lord of Heaven, for all the joys that greet us, For all that you have given To help us and delight us In earth and sky and seas; The sunlight on the meadows, The rainbow's fleeting wonder, The clouds with cooling shadows, The stars that shine in splendor - We thank you, Lord, for these. For swift and gallant horses, For lambs in pastures springing, For dogs with friendly faces, For birds with music thronging Their chantries in the the trees; For herbs to cool our fever, For flowers of field and garden, For bees among the clover With stolen sweetness laden - We thank you, Lord, for these. For homely dwelling places Where childhood's visions linger, For friends and kindly voices, For bread to stay our hunger And sleep to bring us ease; For zeal and zest of living, For faith and understanding, For words to tell our loving, For hope of peace unending - We thank you Lord for these.